From Wonderings to Words — Week 1

I started the process of writing my new novel this week. Here’s how it went:

Day 1

• Got up early to try writing at the crack of dawn. Apparently it’s good for the creative ability. We’ll see at 8pm tonight, when I’m rooted and just want to go to bed.
• I’m happy how the start was formed, but may need to be fattened up with some more description and a little more backstory into the characters.
• Had some apple vinegar in some water. Apparently it’s good for you, but I can confirm that it tasted terrible.
• The view from my balcony was stunning. Who knew the morning was so nice?

Day 2

• Woke up again at the crack of dawn! This is revolutionary for me. Seriously. I sleep in until noon some days (*insert lazy twenty-year old reply here*).
• Wrote another 800 words or so and re-read some of what I did yesterday.
• Found a great relaxing music track to listen to. I know some people that write cannot do it with any noise whatsoever, but I find it helps me to focus and drown out things like the birds tweeting, or brothers on Twitter.
• I wanted to keep going today, but I saw a quote somewhere (Hemingway maybe?) that I shouldn’t burn myself and my ideas out so quickly. Leave something for the next day. We’ll see if it works for tomorrow.

Day 3

• All my muscles, bar those that control my fingers, hurt. First training sessions of the year are never fun.
• Despite this, I managed to crack 2000 words (current count at 2170).
• Character-wise, I believe I have a solid foundation for the first, now I have to somehow link in the second and describe them without too much of a break in the rhythm of the story.
• It seems like not burning out my ideas was a good idea — I got straight into it without too much forethought.
• I fucking hate apple cider vinegar in water.
• The sunrise was nice. It did distract me slightly, however.

Day 4

• Bit of a cloudy day today — matched the mood cast over me by my hangover. Had a few drinks last night with a mate before he goes back to university.
• Slow start; I didnt really hit my stride until about half an hour into writing.
• Changed theme songs on Omnwriter. Huge moment for me.
• In the end I managed to blast out another 700 or so words (702 to be exact), bringing me to 2872 words.
• I’m almost through building my foundation for my next major event, although I’m trying not to rush things, like I did with my last attempt.

Day 5

• Rained overnight, so I got attacked by the mosquitos the rain brought out.
• Took me about forty-five minutes before I finally hit my stride; meaning that I lost track of time and went overboard.
• I’m going to need to break up this chapter a bit, because it’s getting a bit long. 4214 words and counting…
• Can’t tell if apple cider vinegar is benefiting me or not. I still am not shitting gold ingots or farting rainbows, much to my disappointment.
• It’s also good being up earlier, apart from the fact that it does help me concentrate more, I also get first dig at the eggs before my brother gets his way with his huge omlettes.

Day 6

• Did not wake up at the crack of dawn today — it’s the weekend! Plus I got to bed rather late. Plus beer! It’s always the culprit.
• Started writing in the late morning; plodded along today, without much energy or meaning. I spent a lot of the time fact-checking and doing research; this part of the book as some historical factors to it, but I suppose I’ve always thought fact-finding as a rather dull practice.
• I’m still trying to figure out the best way to structure all of the historical events into the fictional events of the story.
• Tried to write out on the balcony again, but someone thought it would be a good idea to play loud music. Terrible for the two C’s — creativity and concentration.

Day 7

• Here we are! The end of the first week!
• I wrote another thousand or so words today, and it was much easier than yesterday. I hit my stride earlier and powered through.
• Current word count is 6290.
• I could go for some more, but I’ve done a solid hour and a half, plus I don’t want to burn myself out. I think I need time to recollect and plan my next attack.
• Made an interesting mathematical discovery today: Mango smoothie + writing = a bloody great start to the day.